Firebrick Housing AlternativesChanging attitudes towards eco-friendly housing in the Congo

Reina Ingham, Lindsay MacLeod, Reyna Schenck, Melissa Sullivan

Problem Statement

The current firebrick housing trend in the Ruzizi Valley in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is popular, but inefficient and expensive.

Ideally, the housing would be cheaper, made with local materials, well insulated, and stable using sustainable building materials and practices.

We want to find environmentally friendly alternatives to the firebrick housing in the Congo and devise a plan to motivate people to choose these building practices.

Where we’re buildingWe hope to work with Working Villages International and Alexander Petroff to address their main goal.

Current TrendFirebrick Housing:

-aesthetically pleasing

-status

-inefficient

-not local materials

-environmentally unfriendly

-alternative forms would be better

Our SolutionStraw bale housing

-environmentally friendly-suitable for the area

Model: The Canelo Project-Bill and Athena Steen, “Save the Children” project

-grant to create straw-bale office building

-community was inspired to build their own homes after the office building was completed

-example of how people just need some motivation

Aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendlyThe Canelo ProjectSonora, Mexico

Stakeholder Analysis-Stakeholders: Peter Schwartz, Alexander Petroff, community members of the Ruzizi Valley, Bill and Athena Steen, Cal Poly student team, NCIIA, Working Villages International

-Interests at stake in relation to the project

-The effect of the project on interests

-Importance of stakeholder for success of project

-Degree of influence on stakeholder

Grant Proposal-Funding for a community center-Milestone 1: A measurable positive change in the attitudes towards alternative housing.-Milestone 2: Obtaining all the building materials locally-Milestone 3: Assembling a team of builders composed of the team of Cal Poly students and advisors as well as the appointed local straw bale housing director and members of the community.-Milestone 4: Completed construction of the community center-Milestone 5: Acceptance of straw bale housing as an option in the Ruzizi Valley

Conclusion-Changing attitudes towards eco-friendly housing

-From community office building to straw bale housing villages